How Helping Others Can Improve Your Health
- SSF_I
- Mar 3, 2023
- 3 min read
This past weekend I had the opportunity to get this book called Wonder Drug by Anthony Mazzarelli, M.D. and Stephen Trzeciak, M.D. During the conference I attended, I had the opportunity to hear Dr. Trzeciak speak and it really changed my outlook and that is what I want to share with you today. I am actually in the progress of reading through the book right now and am about halfway through. It is so good and I would encourage everyone to try it out. I'm sure I will have more thoughts and like the book even more, as I continue reading, however, I wanted to address this topic on my blog this week.
The basic tenet of the book is that through helping others, there is the scientific research proving that it benefits your own health. Even though helping others and showing compassion is not done for this reason, the side effects of helping others have been shown to improve one's health in a tangible way. Through this book, you will find that kinder people not only live longer but live more productive and happier lives. While people who only focus inward on themselves tend to have higher rates of depression, anxiety, cancers, and a host of other diseases that can limit the quality of life in an individual. This book really calls for us to shift our mindset to focus on helping others.
I think that this is an extremely powerful thing to imagine how better the world would be if we all started focusing on others and what we could do for those around us. It would change and help so many of the problems that we have today. Being understanding of others and offering help can go a long way in someone else's life and the data shows that you are helping yourself as well. Although self-care and taking time for yourself have a time and place, from this book, more evidence shows that helping others can make you feel better and even live longer. It also allows you to foster deeper and more fulfilling connections with friends and family as they feel as though you are a person that they can trust and rely on when times get tough.
You might be thinking well that all sounds great but if I give my time, effort, or money to others won't that lead to me burning myself out? This is a valid point and it must be addressed, burnout is a very real thing and it is something that we all want to avoid. Even in the beginning of the book they have already addressed this issue. They have found that when we show compassion and are there for others in a healthy way it actually can prevent burnout. Healthy boundaries of taking time for your own family and well-being are needed, however, by helping others and providing for them the data has shown that this can actually decrease the rates of burnout among all professions. I was actually really surprised by this, and you might be too. I encourage you to check out the book and read more about the scientific reasons why this is true. Helping others can make you feel better and this in turn makes you a happier more fulfilled person with a better outlook on life.
Another thought I had from this was if we spend so much of our time and money helping others when will have time for ourselves? As they talk about in the book, if you are there for others, most of the time they will be there for you. You will be able to have more friends and build deeper connections if you live a life to serve others. Others will want to be there for you and want to help you. Think how much better the world would be if we all lived lives of service and helping those around us.
This week, try to lend a helping hand to others. Start small and just try to give a small act of service. Anything you do can make a difference in someone else's life. Sometimes doing something nice that we think was irrelevant can turn out to make a major impact. If you need any help or want to talk please contact me. I hope you all have a wonderful week filled with service to others.
Resources I've Been Interested In:
Books:
Wonder Drug: 7 Scientifically Proven Ways That Serving Others is the Best Medicine for Yourself by Stephen Trzeciak M.D. & Anthony Mazzarelli M.D.
Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance by Angela Duckworth
Youtube:
How to overcome the fear of getting started by Ali Abdaal
10 Ideas That Changed My Life
Podcasts:
How to Focus Your Distracted Mind with Adam Gazzaley
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